Report from Rangermaster in Memphis

[Richard S]

This report, from which a number of lessons can be taken, was just received from Rangemaster in Memphis, Tennessee:

[size=10]Yesterday, a man returned to his home in the 11000 block of Macon, out East, at 2:00 in the afternoon. He noticed a red GMC Envoy, which he did not recognize, in his driveway. He found the keys in the truck, which he took, then headed for his front door.

At the front door he was met by a man coming out of his house, carrying a bag. The homeowner, who was unarmed, confronted the burglar about his presence there. The burglar, in turn, demanded his truck keys from the homeowner, who refused. The burglar then shot the homeowner, took the keys, and drove off in the GMC Envoy he came in. The homeowner was transported to the Med by ambulance, where he was listed in serious condition.
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[kjtrains]

Something to think about, for sure!

[tracker]

Hindsight is perfect but I have given a similar scenario some thought before and decided I would call 911 instead of confronting an apparent burglary in progress. This one becomes a bit clearer that one would take the keys, drive off a short distance and call the police; even being armed might have resulted in a disaster if he had confronted the armed  intruder. Control of the situation is paramount in priority.

[kjtrains]

You hit the nail on the head!  Keep yourself out of harm's way.  Now days, the bad guys come in more than 1, too.

[tracker]

Possessions and property are just not worth the risk unless there is no other alternative.

[kjtrains]

I definitely agree.  Most of those items can be replaced.  Some, maybe not, however, they're still a material thing.

[sslater]

Richard's report gives us a lot to think about.  I must admit my "what if" scenario library didn't include catching a burglary in progress, and I like Tracker's plan.  Move out of the area and call 9-1-1 from a safe distance.

My first impulse would have been to confront the bad guy.  Maybe that's the downside of having a CCW permit and actually carrying.  Two bad things about that plan:
1. I'm not 25 years old anymore.
2. Even though all the firearms in my home are locked away (in several different locations), I should anticipate that the burglar has taken one or more of them.  What could be worse than getting shot in a burglary?  Getting shot with your own gun!!

Yes, Tracker has the right plan.  

Steve

[Richard S]

Excellent posts, gentlemen.

The lessons I see in the story are as follows:

1. At all times and at all places where it is legally possible to do so, be armed. Here, the burglar could have come out of the house just as the homeowner arrived on the scene, might have had accomplices, and might have attempted to eliminate the homeowner as a witness.

2. Establish as much control over the situation as possible. Taking the keys to the intruding vehicle, which the burglar had stupidly left in the ingition, was a good step in that direction. For an unarmed victim, however, that was a risky move since the burglar(s) could have come out of the house just as he was engaged in removing the keys.

3. Assess the situation. Deciding to approach the home to confront an unknown number of probably armed indtuders, was a recklessly dangerous act of bravado for an unarmed homeowner. In this case, it almost resulted in the homeowner's death.

4. Place yourself in the best available position from a tactical standpoint. In this case, even had he been armed, the best course of action would appear to me to have been for the homeowner to place some distance between himself and the scene, take cover while still being able to observe the vehicle, and call the authorities on a cell phone giving them the vehicle's license number and description. (After all, the homeowner had been able to get the vehicle's keys, which would have provided some added time for official response even if the burglar(s) carried a spare set of keys.)  

My summary -- stay armed, attempt to gain at least some degree of control over the situation, employ sound tactics, and use common judgment. While I admit that my first impulse would be for confrontation, I would hope that I would then exercise some degree of restraint -- at least until I had an  idea of the odds being faced. (We used to call that "real time information" or simply "intelligence.")

I am hoping that the homeowner has a full and prompt recovery from his injuries and that the burglar is brought to justice.

[kjtrains]

Richard.  Excellent advice, as always.  We all act in haste, at times, and your thoughts can make us think and keep what we should do to the forefront.  

I, too, hope for the homeowner's quick recovery.

[P7Enigma]

Just to "add on" to Richard's comments...(good stuff I might add)

Florida's castle doctrine would have sealed his fate if it were me. As Richard says, always be "armed". As soon as the yoyo was discovered in my driveway would have warranted the call to authorities as our "compound" has controlled access which would indicate unlawful tresspass raising the preverbial hair on the back of the neck which in turn raises the "tactical awareness" level. At that point it becomes a "what if" scenario but, if that azzhat so much as "pulled" any sort of weapage.... Who knows, ..heh, I know however!

One of those "guess you had to be there" type situations. Every "confrontation" has its idiosychrosies, however, there is NO excuse for improper action to willfully place you or someone else in danger.

This person made mistakes that may have cost him his life. I hope he survives obviously but we also must understand "we were not in his shoes" at the time. Its a shame that it happened. Being complacent was his mistake.

Wifey and I always stay diligent about our surroundings and also "perform" scenario" and "what if" training. Even if its only verbal...It works. We also employ a tiered passive security system of physical observation, video, motion sensors etc. and barrier deterrence (stategically placed thorn bushes, ornanental pickett fences etc and the controlled access gate mentioned above. Our situation allows this but understand that others properties may not. In that case your "tiered" and "thought out" actions change to meet the potential threat based upon the physical layout of your property and what not.

In final, we live in the middle of a state forest on some private land leftover from a time past, that being said, we are a little more cautious due to hunting activities in our area which obviously constitutes everyone being "armed". So that coupled with the remote location, my reaction situation has been modified somewhat as I know its going to be more than a few minutes for authorities to arrive. Being an ex mil type and being involved with sniping, I even have a detailed "range card" with accurate distances, potential cover and defilade points well marked and no, I'm not a whacko!...

In short, everyone's situations are different but there is NO EXCUSE for NOT having a plan. Even a simple plan is better than nothing and only takes a short time to develop "something"!

OK...I'll clam up now....

[kjtrains]

P7.  You make some excellent points.  Sounds like your compound is well covered.      

[P7Enigma]

P7.  You make some excellent points.  Sounds like your compound is well covered.      

With the exception of concertina wire, its pretty secure!  

[kjtrains]

That may be a good thing!      

[Richard S]

With the exception of concertina wire, its pretty secure!  

Back in the '90s, I had a casual acquaintance with a rather well-to-do gentleman in West Africa whose house was in a compound behind a 10-foot concrete wall topped by concertina wire and broken glass. There was also a night watchman in the compound -- armed with a machete due to a decree by the military government du jour prohibiting civilian ownership of firearms. The armed robbers used a couple of homemade 12-foot ladders and a couple of old mattresses to breach the compound's defenses. The machete-armed watchman claimed to have been surprised and overpowered. (I suspect, however, that he was eitther asleep, or bribed, or both.) Anyway, I was told that the "haul" was significant.

Isn't it interesting that one of the first acts of every tin-horn dictator or junta around the world after seizing power involves an attempt to confiscate and outlaw civilian ownership of firearms?

[kjtrains]

They want to control all the fire power in the country and eliminate any attempt to take them over.  Just my thoughts.